A regular postal stamp (49 cents), covers a weight up to one ounce. A piece of small bubble, bubble wrap, shouldn't make it overweight. However, there IS a thickness "regulation". They have a piece of cardboard, with a slot cut out. An envelope must fit through the slot, in order not to be charged more. They also have an envelope size "regulation". I had a postal worker "manhandle" a STANDARD SIZE envelope, like you get in a box at a dollar store, and tell me "it just barely" met the size requirement. (disappointed, that he couldn't find a reason to charge me more) I also had a postal worker state that the envelope was "too ridged," with cardboard (like a cereal box) in it, so she could charge me more. I quit going to that post office, with the really long, slow lines because they had to nitpick everyone's stuff, trying to find a reason to charge them more, or interrogating them so much, they felt the need to "confess" their contents. They had people repackaging stuff, they had measuring tapes, measuring every side, of every box, just unbelievable. I go way out of town to the nice, no charge for hand stamping, no interrogation, no line, quick, postal lady. Hand stamping is always best. If they ask why it's needed (if you don't mind-little white lies) just say it's an "art card" a hand painted card, and you just want it to arrive safe. Some stingy postal workers, may want to charge you to hand stamp envelopes. If your postal workers do that, just ask SASEers to put 2 stamps on, and that should cover it. Having all my SASEs hand stamped, is the key to their safe journey. If you mail via mailboxes, then bubble wrap, is the next best thing. However, for larger seeds, like peas, beans, nasturtums, Morning Glory, etc, I'd ask traders to send a SMALL sabe, with 5 stamps on it (for $2.25 postage, + hand stamp, or possible extra weight.) I got a medium SABE with 2 stamps on it, which was not enough postage. I had to keep their bubble envelope, and send their seeds in a large card envelope, with some bubble wrap inside, hand stamped. I also, had to pay postage due, on the manilla envelope they sent the SABE in. So, be as specific as possible, especially letting newbies know what SIZE sabe you want sent, and HOW to send it. (in what, with how many stamps to send it & how many stamps on the return SABE) I order food and supplies every month online, so get as much cardboard, and bubble wrap to reuse, as I need. If you don't do this, you could ask on Craigslist, or your local Freecycle, for unwanted bubble wrap. Then arrange to meet in a public place to receive it, if you don't want to buy any. A local "dollar" store may have some cheap to buy, or a store receiving "knick-knacks", mugs or other breakables, may have some, that comes with their merchandise, that they don't need, and might give to you. If you don't have bubble wrap, corregated cardboard might work. I always send 20+ seeds, especially much more than that, with tiny seeds because they're so tiny, hard to count, pick up, and work with. Some big seeds though, like pumpkin or squash, 6 seeds would be the least, but 10 seeds is generally what I send of those. If that's too much for a receiver, they can trade what they don't need away, in a "grab bag". I sent a SABE, and apparently the postal people, lost or confiscated it. They're paranoid about "packages". At least here they are. A Canadian seed site posted that they no longer send seeds to the US, because the postal people open their sent packages, and throw the seeds away. :( I've traded internationally, with foreign citizens (not businesses), and I always got theirs, and they always got mine, if they were sent looking like greeting cards. There's no forms needed on "cards". Safe trading everyone!

I had some ugly hedge type bushes in the back by my swimming pool and the neighbor kid came and cut them down then pulled up the stumps with his truck for $100, LOL, and I planted two peach trees there. Fast forward about 10 years and I have a dying Chinese Elm and a messy and bug ridden Box Elder that I want gone. For $100 he takes down the Chinese Elm, cuts it into transportable sized pieces and hauls away the brush, then fixes the pool fence where he dropped a limb on it. A couple of weeks later and several hours of work smarter, he wants $200 to take down the box elder. It's still way cheaper than those tree places, so it's a deal. He cuts down the old box elder, cuts the wood into pieces, transports it away and cleans up the brush, then fixes the pool fence AGAIN where he dropped a limb on it, LOL. I still have two stumps that need to be ground, so thanks for the reminder FOAS. Heck, if you were closer, I'd lend you a stump. (grin) Lars, here we have stump grinding services that come to your house and grind the stumps. They are in the phone book under "stump grinding" so I'm assuming it's probably in California too. I did do the "drill holes and fill with stuff that eats stumps" thing about 8 years ago when I took down the Chinese Elm. The stump is still there. Annie

So many misconceptions. First, the assumptions that Saturday will be cut... nope. Tuesday is the day they'll cut. Thinking it'll reduce staff? Nope. Some possible temp/part-time maybe but nothing significant. Some electrical/heating cost from the buildings being shut down. Think that they'll lose hours? Hardly. They're under contract, though it should be re-negotiated by someone with some guts. Our not using is causing them to have financial trouble??? That's totally laughable. The mismanagement, overpayment of employees, letting them work 3 hrs and day and get paid for 8+ OT... and they still have trouble with deliveries? LOL One of the local towns has the post office paychecks being sent FedEx... because they kept LOSING their own paychecks! I know a number of people who work at the, excuse me, are employed by the post office. I know a lot of the stuff that goes on there. Want to restore financial soundness? Cut back on unneeded management. Make all of them work the full 8 hrs instead of having someone else punch them out later, go take a nap and come back and other scams. Pay them what they're worth and no more. Quit giving incentives to do less, and give incentives to do more. Quit giving carriers a vehicle and then paying them mileage on their own vehicles. These are all normal and sound business practices for but when you're government subsidized you don't have fiscal accountability. Actually, having the post offices open 7 days a week would be a better option. Make it more convenient to use, and have people wait on customers instead of leaning on the counter in back watching. I do as much as I can by phone or internet and will do more and more as I can. We talk about all the bailouts from airlines to auto companies but forget about the ongoing bailout called the post office.

NYC and surrounding areas it has always been a choice. Except for bars and dining inside. That was banned. Any food service is open for delivery or pick-up. But an individual choice. Even Junk foods. Those that had business well in place for delivery/pick-up before covid have maintained ok. Maybe not profitable but staying afloat like pizza joints. Mid-range eateries are just scaling back the menu. High end fine dining tweezer food restaurants are mostly history. Time will tell if they restructure or just walk away. Most of those are investor driven. Some billionaires just lost some pocket change. Our local bakery just ten miles away is open for pick-up but way scaled back production. They supplied over half of the city restaurants. What a blow to them. I'm convinced they will survive.